12 Back-to-School Home Ideas From HGTV Magazine

Whether your kids are learning at home or in the classroom, these ideas from HGTV Magazine will prepare you (and your house) for the most hectic time of the year.

By: Caroline Alkire

From: HGTV Magazine

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Set Up a Snack Station

Kids will run right to the pantry when they get off the bus — unless you have your snack station ready. Transform a standard bar or kitchen nook into an organized after-school snack shop. Decorate spare counter space with healthy treats. Stock a mini fridge with seltzers and other kid-friendly pours.

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From: HGTV Magazine

Make a Desk Extra-Fun

The cooler the desk, the more incentive to do homework. Designer Jo Gick tricked out her son's study area. She used a laser cutter to make those wooden sunglasses frames, painted them green (Meadow Green by Rust-Oleum) and got custom-fit mirrors. As for the accent wall, it's covered in cassette tapes from eBay and Craigslist. Jo spray-painted clear cassettes with bright colors. She glued them all onto plywood, then attached that to the wall. The chair and desk are both from HomeGoods.

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From: HGTV Magazine

Organize Your Entry

The key to conquering back-to-school is staying organized — and it all starts in the entryway. Avoid clutter and chaos by creating a cohesive entry where every item has a designated spot. Hang backpacks and jackets on hooks. Line up bins for shoes, basketballs or other knickknacks. Suspend a pegboard, then add shelves so kids have a place to leave water bottles, sunglasses and keys. Every item has a home, and your life just got easier.

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Loft a Bed, Build a Desk

This lofted bed doubles as a study space, complete with a bookshelf (perfect for displaying sports trophies!) and a desk. Plus, there's so much extra room to play, relax after school and do homework.

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DIY a Coatrack

Here's how: Designer Chelsea Bieber bent thrift store spoons to make hooks, then attached them with screws. Now, it's the coolest after-school drop zone around — coats, hats and backpacks have a creative space to live on this handmade coat track.

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From: HGTV Magazine

Revamp a Reading Nook

Ample desk space, handmade art and lots of drawers for craft supplies? Check. If you want to make like these homeowners and level-up your kids' at-home schooling space, turn an empty corner into a colorful little library. Rows of Ikea picture ledges keep reading within reach without hogging floor space. A graphic rug from Ikea and a navy beanbag chair from Target offer fun sprawl-out options.

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From: HGTV Magazine

Let Your Child Personalize a Desk

If you don't have enough space for an entire school room, you can still create a distinct study spot — even in your smallest bedroom. All you need is space for a desk and a chair. Allow your child to pick out fun desk accessories as they would their own bedroom decorations. Think colorful globes, pretty pencil holders, desk calendars and more.

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From: HGTV Magazine

Build a Backyard Treehouse

Kids need a place to unwind after a long day, too — and there's nothing cooler than a treehouse. This 10-by-10 pine version is a mini Craftsman. Pom-pom garlands and a slide kid it up. And the gloriously green lawn is artificial turf.

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From: HGTV Magazine

Fill a Breakfast Nook With Love

Relax with coffee and your kids before a hectic day of school and work — even if you only have a couple minutes to spare. Heart art and lots of cozy pillows make this breakfast spot super serene.

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From: HGTV Magazine

Create a Craft Cart

It's the ultimate one-stop-shop for pencils, paper, laptop chargers and other imagination enablers. This one from World Market has lots of drawers for extra organization. Our pro tip: Get one with wheels and use it anywhere in your home!

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From: HGTV Magazine

Replace Dining Chairs With Benches

If your dining room is a hub for after-school art projects, play dates and snack times, benches may be a practical alternative to dining chairs. They'll maximize seating (no need to store extra chairs elsewhere for when guests visit). Plus, kids can slide in and out of benches with ease — no scratched hardwood floors. Finally, they're so Scandinavian-cool.

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From: HGTV Magazine

Create a Cozy Space For Younger Kids

Give younger kids space to play (*ahem* stay occupied) while older kids get homework done. The sheepskin rug in this charming nursery doubles as a play space. Toys and fun instruments — check out that guitar — top it all off, while crystals on the gold leaf chandelier from Troy Lighting cast rainbows on the wall. Magical.

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From: HGTV Magazine

12 Back-to-School Home Ideas From HGTV Magazine

Related To:

Shop This Look

Set Up a Snack Station

Make a Desk Extra-Fun

Organize Your Entry

Loft a Bed, Build a Desk

DIY a Coatrack

Revamp a Reading Nook

Let Your Child Personalize a Desk

Build a Backyard Treehouse

Fill a Breakfast Nook With Love

Create a Craft Cart

Replace Dining Chairs With Benches

Create a Cozy Space For Younger Kids

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